Finish high school, get a job, and wait to get married: that assertion comes from Brookings Institution research that indeed shows overwhelming numbers of people in their 20’s join the middle class by following these steps. Sadly, such advice comes too late for too many in San Diego already in poverty, the homeless, the drug […]

By Vann Ellison Finish high school, get a job, and wait to get married: that is Ben Carson’s advice on how young people can avoid poverty. Recently confirmed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Carson’s assertion is derived from research that indeed shows overwhelming numbers of people in their 20’s join the middle class […]

With the ability to separate drug-related deaths by county, Florida Medical Examiners are able to provide additional geographic analysis complementing its most recent annual report issued this fall. County-level data is available here: https://vannellisondotorg.files.wordpress.com/2015/12/2015-county-per-100000.xlsx

“The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.” –President-Elect Donald Trump, November 9. Amity Shlaes wrote the book “Forgotten Man” which gave us another look at the modern welfare state which started in the 1930’s. Shlaes shows Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal created a new forgotten man, the man who subsidizes […]

Exactly one year after this article appeared Jan. 20, 2016, we will be inaugurating the next President. Former Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich and myself wrote the following about poverty in America: “Deep-rooted challenges facing our country often simmer in the background during election years because they have been with us for generations, failing to garner headlines […]

Jack Kemp was a pro quarterback, a leader in Congress and a Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) who understood the power of free markets and free people. In a few weeks, a new President will begin implementing their vision of the country through executive branch departments. Between now and the election, we will […]

(Number 1 in a series #socialenterpriseUS) Three years ago we mentioned Second Chance, Inc. in an article that ran in the Baltimore Sun. Second Chance, Inc. creates “green collar jobs” by taking apart buildings that would otherwise be demolished and dumped in a landfill. The organization then offers the reclaimed materials and other donated goods to […]

Below are five key take aways from a government watchdog report analyzing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The General Accountability Office report, released last month, raises serious questions about HUD’s ability to execute its own programs. 1. HUD has not developed agency-wide, written policies for its program evaluations. (p.51) 2. This challenge is […]

St. Matthew’s House opened Cafe M 25 in the Spring of 2015, serving thrift store customers and providing job skills and employment. “We have worked together with St. Matthew’s House to create a training program and coffee house experience that is positive and inspiring for those who are looking for a second chance and to […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2015 An Evening with an Angel Investor – Bud Stoddard Benefiting St. Matthew’s House Presented by Golf Membership Consultants, Cloud 9 Home Watch & Thermal Imaging, Bay Pointe Property Management, and the Small Business Development Center. CONTACT: Phil Romano. For more information on this event, please contact Phil Romano at […]